Le Mars man plans to use insanity defense at murder trial

LE MARS, Iowa | A Le Mars man accused of killing his sister has filed notice that he intends to use an insanity defense at trial.

Public defender Billy Oyadare on Wednesday filed the notice in Plymouth County District Court. The one-page document said that Thomas Bibler intends to assert a defense of insanity and/or diminished responsibility. Yet-to-be-determined expert witnesses will be called to testify on that defense, Oyadare said in the notice.

Thomas Bibler, 34, is charged with first-degree murder, willful injury and going armed with intent in connection with the June 11 stabbing death of Shannon Bogh, 27, of Le Mars.

Bibler's trial is scheduled for Feb. 14.

Bibler is accused of assaulting Bogh in her home at 591 15th St. SW with an edged weapon. She died a short time later at the Le Mars hospital.

A witness to the stabbing identified Bibler as a suspect. Bibler was arrested without incident in his apartment about 30 minutes after the assault. He remains in custody in the Plymouth County Jail.

If found guilty as charged, Bibler would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.